Choosing Entertainment for your Homecoming Dance

For many schools, Homecoming centers around a night full of dancing, dance floor games, and loud music. For others, music plays a background to other more formal festivities. No matter what mood you choose, music will certainly play a definitive part in the evening.

Before you hire the person who will set this mood, take time to decide exactly what you are looking for.

First of all, decide if you are looking for a DJ or a live band. The differences are obvious, a DJ will play all the most popular songs you want, along with classic dance-alongs. Depending on his/her style, he/she may sit back and just play the songs you request, or become an active part of the entertainment.

Live bands are generally more specific in style, and although they may play some popular hits, they may not sound exactly the same. However, if you are creating a more formal setting, with classical or jazz music, this is certainly the way to go.

Once you decide what you are looking for, there are only a few basic guidelines:

Options:

Band
DJ
Student-run CD system
Here are a few places to start looking for a band/D.J.:

Phone book (look under Disc Jockey in the yellow pages)
Entertainment agencies
Call other schools for references
Friends or relatives (ask them for people who have played at any local weddings and parties)
Bands that you’ve heard in the past
Search the web
When interviewing, start with a few basic questions:

Agent/contact name
Type of music
Number of band members
Rate per hour
Rate for overtime
Type of dress
References you can call (preferably dances)
A few key points to remember:

Start early
Request demo tapes
Call references (people who have used them previously)
Stop by a performance to hear them live
Ask about travel charges to and from your site
Check out their song list. Don’t assume they will play what you want. Many times bands cannot play your theme song.
Ask about breaks: How many breaks and how long? Long breaks can kill the mood.